98: Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river

Lei Jun quickly finished ordering the dishes.

Risotto with Italian Alba white truffles, slow-simmered for 72 hours, paired with French blue lobster tail.

The main course was Japanese A5-grade Wagyu sirloin, served with a black truffle sauce.

Dessert was a 'Galaxy Chocolate' made using molecular gastronomy techniques, as if a galaxy was condensed onto the plate.

Lei Jun tasted the food and nodded in satisfaction.

Well, it's a bit expensive, but the flavor truly lives up to the price and the ambiance.

When the bill arrived, Qin Yu instinctively wanted to show off and prepared to snatch the check.

Lei Jun stopped him.

"I'm treating you; there's no reason for you to pay."

She was unyielding and directly handed over her own card.

Qin Yu felt Lei Jun's assertiveness and didn't dare say another word.

Not bad, but inwardly, he was feeling quite pleased, feeling that his relationship with Sister Lei had taken a step closer.

After the meal, Lei Jun, Qin Yu, Lei Ying, and Lei Yue walked out of the restaurant and happened to run into Wu Tian, Guo Hao, and several other scions from prominent families who were also there to spend money.

Upon seeing Lei Jun, Wu Tian and Guo Hao immediately stopped their joking expressions and became extremely respectful.

They spoke cautiously.

"Miss Lei, have you finished your meal?"

Lei Jun gave them a faint nod as a greeting, then, under the escort of Lei Ying and Lei Yue, headed towards the waiting car.

Wu Tian, Guo Hao, and the others hurriedly bowed to see her off, only straightening up after the car merged into the traffic flow.

Then they immediately surrounded Qin Yu.

Everyone was filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

"Qin Yu, you're really something!"

"When did you get so familiar with Miss Lei? Looks like you just had a meal together?"

Qin Yu basked in the focused gazes of the crowd, his vanity greatly satisfied.

He deliberately put on an air of nonchalance.

"It's nothing much. I just happened to run into Sister Lei this afternoon when she wanted to learn the chinese zither. I happen to know a little, so I gave her some pointers."

"Sister Lei thought my teaching was decent, so she graced me with a meal."

Wu Tian was sour with envy.

Teaching the zither?

And having a meal together?

Why didn't such an opportunity to get closer fall into his lap?

He had previously even asked someone to inquire about Miss Lei's preferences, but he hadn't even managed to see her much. Qin Yu, on the other hand, got to spend the afternoon alone with Miss Lei and even scored a meal at Cloud Top Pavilion!

Guo Hao was itching with envy.

He couldn't help but think, if only he had learned some musical instrument back then, perhaps he would be the one by Miss Lei's side now.

The other scions also clicked their tongues in amazement, asking for details one after another, the jealousy in their eyes barely concealed.

Some regretted not learning any refined skills, others were annoyed they hadn't gone to the music store that afternoon for a chance encounter.

Then, indignantly, they demanded Qin Yu treat them to a meal, right at Cloud Top Pavilion, or else they wouldn't let him leave.

In high spirits, Qin Yu waved his hand grandly.

"No problem!"

This feeling of being fawned over made him feel light-headed.

The group returned to Cloud Top Pavilion.

During the feast, everyone took turns toasting Qin Yu, their words full of flattery.

"Young Master Qin, you must put in a good word for us in front of Miss Lei in the future!"

"You must introduce us brothers to Miss Lei when you have the chance!"

Qin Yu was flattered into a daze.

These young masters' attitudes towards him weren't like this before.

They were all very indifferent.

Who would have thought the world changes in thirty years.

He could have a day like this too!

Hahaha!

However, he hadn't completely lost his senses.

Introduce them?

What a joke!

Could he possibly influence Sister Lei's thoughts?

He could only laugh evasively.

"Sure, sure, when there's a chance, definitely, when there's a chance..."

Everyone could tell Qin Yu was being evasive, but they could also understand.

Someone like Miss Lei isn't someone you can just meet on a whim.

But understanding aside, the jealousy in their hearts didn't lessen. They exchanged glances and decided to get Qin Yu thoroughly drunk.

"Alright, we get it!"

"Let's drink first! Today, we won't leave until we're drunk!"

Qin Yu accepted every toast.

He was happy today!

Drink!

He completely let loose and ended up dead drunk.

In the end, his father Qin Zhenhua sent someone to pick him up and take him back... to the Qin Family.

Qin Zhenhua looked at his son, dead drunk, his face darkening.

Useless thing!

Out carousing again!

Just as he was about to scold him, Qin Yu mumbled an explanation in his stupor.

"Dad... don't scold... this afternoon... I taught Sister Lei the zither... tonight... she treated me to dinner... at Cloud Top Pavilion..."

Qin Zhenhua's anger instantly dissipated.

What?

With Miss Lei?

His expression immediately softened, but he still admonished, "Even so, drink less in the future!"

"Pay attention to your image. Important people don't like those around them acting like this!"

Qin Yu mumbled, "Got it."

... Meanwhile, on the other side.

Lei Jun returned home and practiced the zither for a while longer.

Hmm, the feel is getting better and better.

At that moment, the system notification sound rang.

[Ding!]

[Task: Learn the chinese zither, experience ancient Chinese culture, completed. Reward: 1000 godly tycoon coins.]

Hehe, another task done.

She looked at the new task.

[godly tycoon mission: Must beautifully copy a passage from 'preface to the pavilion of prince teng' in calligraphy. The system will automatically judge if the calligraphy is beautiful. Task reward: 1000 godly tycoon coins.]

Lei Jun stroked her chin.

Is this system pushing her down the path of a talented lady?

First reading 'one hundred years of solitude', then learning the chinese zither, now calligraphy. Next, it won't be chess and painting, will it?

She thought about it and felt this task wasn't bad either.

Better than some of the other tasks.

Not bad.

Better than those weird tasks. She can earn godly tycoon coins and improve her refinement a bit—not a loss.

Just, what kind of calligraphy is considered beautiful?

Hmm, I'll think about it tomorrow.

Then, she took a bath, played with her Pet Name for a while, and fell into a deep sleep... The next morning.

Lei Jun bought rice paper and a brush, full of confidence, and began writing.

She looked at the characters she wrote and thought they were good.

Dragon-flying and phoenix-dancing, full of vigor.

She thought it was decent, but the system didn't show the task as completed.

Lei Jun was unconvinced.

She had Lei Ying and Lei Yue judge her calligraphy masterpiece.

"What do you think?"

They looked at the crooked, structurally messy characters on the paper and fell silent... They glanced at each other. How... should they tactfully tell the young lady?

Lei Ying carefully began, "Young lady... the brushwork... is very unique."

Lei Yue added, "Young lady, these characters... are quite neat, it's just... they could probably still be improved a bit?"

Lei Jun looked at their troubled expressions and understood... Alright, it seems they're really ugly.

But she was unconvinced and got into a battle of wills with calligraphy.

For the entire next day, she holed up in the study, writing sheet after sheet, piling up half the desk with rice paper.

She wrote from morning till night, not even eating dinner.

But the system still didn't show the task as completed.

Lei Jun irritably threw down the brush.

What a lousy task!

I'm not writing anymore!

Why fight with myself?

She stood up, deciding to go out and eat something good to reward herself and vent her emotions.

PS:

Thank you everyone for the gifts and support~

Thank you [Wei Tianyi of Huangzi No. 1] for sending one 'Urge Update' talisman~

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Love you all~